A farmer collaboration initiative

Project Overview

ONE17-305
Project Type: Partnership
Funds awarded in 2017: $14,994.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2018
Grant Recipient: Vital Communities
Region: Northeast
State: Vermont
Project Leader:
Beth Roy
Vital Communities

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Education and Training: networking
  • Farm Business Management: cooperatives, feasibility study, market study
  • Sustainable Communities: community development, food hubs, infrastructure analysis, local and regional food systems, partnerships

    Proposal abstract:

    Vital Communities will work with farmers to address a continuing challenge to farm growth in the Upper
    Connecticut River Valley (Upper Valley) region of New Hampshire and Vermont. According to our 2014 Local
    Foods Market Assessment, 56% of 116 farmers surveyed seek increased direct-to-consumer sales, yet
    established channels are no longer ensuring consistent income growth. One recommendation from the
    assessment was to “explore creative solutions to capital and infrastructure limitations.” In response, farmers have
    begun to envision a unique year-round direct-sales outlet with a strong community engagement focus, what we
    have begun calling a modern grange.

    Farmers have asked Vital Communities to support creation of this new model by facilitating conversations among
    interested farmers while providing educational workshops to determine mission, organizational structure, and
    business model. Farmers are excited about a hybrid co-op/grange/farmers market that could eventually include
    aggregation and gleaning hubs, a commercial kitchen for value-added processing, shared winter crop storage,
    and more. SARE funding would leverage Vital Communities’ strength as a neutral convener and trusted farm
    service provider to support farmers in their desire to develop a collaborative space that would increase sales and
    strengthen connections to the wider community.

    Our goal for the granting period would be to conduct a SWOT analysis and produce a mission and work plan for
    moving the modern grange concept from casual conversation at farmers markets to a blueprint for a unique
    farmer-owned and operated community market and operations facility.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    Our longer term goal is to define and launch the modern grange. The goal for this grant is to determine feasibility
    based on a SWOT analysis, assessment of farmer capacity and commitment, and education about what such a
    project would require. Questions we will answer include
    • How should grange stakeholders identify and prioritize function to ensure success at each stage of
    development?
    • What skills and resources are needed to launch this project?
    • What is the most viable business structure for the grange – a co-op? Nonprofit? For profit?
    • What is the grange’s mission?
    • How would the grange interface with existing farmers markets and farmer commitments?
    • How will grange stakeholders move from planning to realization?

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.